Drunk Councilwoman Wrecks Range Rover at OVER 3 TIMES LEGAL LIMIT (0.263%)

On March 8, 2024 around 11:39 PM, Officer Taylor Tiongson-Cradic with the New Brunswick Police Department was dispatched to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Edgebrook Road. He arrived on scene around 11:48 PM, and he observed that a 2014 Range Rover had struck an American Sycamore tree in front of a house. He then made contact with the driver, who was identified as New Brunswick Councilwoman Suzanne Sicora-Ludwig. As he was speaking with Suzanne, he detected the odor of alcohol and noticed other signs of impairment.

Officer Tiongson-Cradic asked her if she was a Councilwoman, and she responded by saying that she was the Council President. Suzanne told the officer that she was coming from a dinner before operating a motor vehicle. First responders were on scene already, and after some hesitation she got on a stretcher and was placed inside the ambulance rig. She was evaluated by EMS and eventually agreed to be taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH).

Since she was a Councilwoman, Lieutenant Thierry Lemmerling was called to the scene. After Lieutenant Lemmerling arrived on scene, it was determined that a DWI investigation would be initiated. The vehicle was towed from the scene by Guaranteed Towing, and it was discovered that a sign had been damaged as the vehicle was being towed. After it was determined that Suzanne would be taken to the hospital, Officer Tiongson-Cradic followed the ambulance there. Officer Tejada was also sent to RWJUH by the order of Lieutenant Lemmerling to assist Officer Tiongson-Cradic in completing the DWI process.

At the hospital, he overheard Suzanne tell the hospital staff that she had consumed 2 martinis before operating a motor vehicle. She was informed of her Miranda rights, but she requested an attorney, and specifically asked for the City Attorney to come to the hospital while mentioning that she was an attorney herself. Based on her asking for an attorney, the officers did not question her regarding what happened. Suzanne was also asked to consent to provide a sample of her blood for testing, and she initially signed the consent form. However, she refused to cooperate when the hospital staff came to draw her blood.

As a result of her lack of cooperation, the officers decided to contact a judge and seek a warrant compelling a blood draw. The officer made contact with Zone Assistant Prosecutor, AP Snyder, and an affidavit for a search warrant of her blood was completed. Superior Court Judge Pedro Jimenez approved a warrant for her blood. They returned to the hospital and obtained her blood at 3:24 AM after RWJUH personnel were shown a copy of the warrant. After the blood draw was complete, Suzanne was released to RWJUH ER staff for further medical treatment.

Her blood was analyzed by the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences on March 20, 2024, and the results indicated a BAC of 0.263%. This was more than 3 times the legal limit of 0.08%.

Suzanne was initially issued the following tickets: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, driving or parking an unregistered motor vehicle

Since she failed to later provide proof of insurance, she was later issued these tickets in addition to the 3 other tickets that were initially issued: no liability insurance coverage on motor vehicle and failure to possess driver insurance card

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